The issue of being overweight and the problems that come with seems to be very common in today's society. Much of it has to do with our acceptable behavioral standards based on consumerism today. The common occurrence of weight problems is not cheap either. Aside from the fact that there is more food consumption and grocery costs, weight problems also drive more expenses for dealing with being larger.
Social Networking
The intriguing new science of social networking is demonstrating how personal interconnections can affect our health. Social networking sites focus in helping people being introduced to other people dealing with similar issues and provide information, contacts, peer support, and encouragement. The people you live with, work with, talk to, email, and chat to on social networking sites can sometimes be good or bad for your health. Does this mean that social networking sites are enticing people to spend more time online and less time interacting with others face-to-face?
People want comfort, and talking to others suffering from the same symptoms gives them piece of mind, knowing that they are not alone. Learning what has worked for others, what hasn't worked for others, is their disease progressing fast or slow, what they have been told to do next and how they are coping, are all strategies to help them through their illness and disease. This information is difficult to find and certainly difficult for many medical practitioners to provide, that personal touch and understanding is often missing, people don't really have a local health community doctor anymore, so where do they turn?
Ideas and habits that influence health for better or for worse can spread through social networks in much the same way that germs spread through communities.
Spreading The Weight
Scientists don't fully understand how obesity spreads. Scientists suspect that networking influences its member's perception as normal and acceptable. If people see their friends becoming heavier and heavier over time, they may accept weight gain as natural, even inevitable. Instead of exercising more or eating less when their weight begins to creep up, they may simply go with the flow and join the crowd.
The influence of social networking can also work in the other direction, and help people maintain a healthy weight.
Post a Comment